When the Wallabies step out onto the hallowed pitch at Stade de France to play Les Bleus in less than a month, it will mark their 15th and final Test of a monster season.
With head coach Joe Schmidt making clear of his intention to manage the side’s fatigue with a rotation following learnings from last year’s Spring Tour, it is a strategy that the whole squad has bought into for the European tour.
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The Wallabies have endured arguably one of the hardest calendar years a side has undertaken, with six of the eight non-Lions test matches being against sides ranked higher than them, and four of those against sides who at the time were ranked number one in the world.
The side will complete matches against all six nationsabove them in the rankings this year when they play England, Ireland, and France on tour.
With World Cup calculations hanging in the background, taking a week-to-week approach is not only helping the side manage energy levels, but also any additional pressure.
Speaking to the media, Wallabies prop Tom Robertson added the head coach’s approach has translated right down to individual player management - with everything focused on minimising fatigue.
“I think Joe's really good at getting the fundamentals,” the 27-capped Wallaby said on Tuesday.
“I think, you know, sleeping and eating, it's the boring stuff that you've got to get right, you know, each day to make sure that you're ready to go by the weekend.
“There's no hidden secrets around what it is to recovery. Coming from Japan, we've had, a full sleep schedule for what we need to do. Different foods that help with the time zone change.
“It felt really good coming into it. We left Japan in the morning and then you arrive in the evening in England.
“It's just a long day, really. You get sort of that time zone pretty easily, which has been really good. We were able to train Monday, Tuesday this week and [we’re] feeling really good for the weekend.”
The fatigue challenge is particularly hard for the likes of Rob Valetini, who is looking to maintain consistent game time after being sidelined for much of the season with a persistent calf injury.
However, following a promising performance in Tokyo, the Brumbies’ loose forward believes his growing momentum will see him back at his best on the European tour.
“It's just something I'm trying to stay on top of,” Valetini told reporters on Monday.
“Just doing my extra strength work at the gym and that. A little one per cent is all I can do to help with my calf.
“That's probably been one of my main focuses, just to consistently be out there on the training paddock and be available for games and selections. It's been in and out, so it's been hard to pull games together and try to play to the best of my abilities.
“I feel like I'm 100 per cent. I think it's just trying to get the confidence back. I guess to build momentum, so I can play my best and do my job for the team.
“To play at a stadium like Twickenham is very special. I try to treat it as any other game.
“[If] you put games on a high stake, [you] put pressure on yourself to perform well.”
